Psychiatric Technician salary in California
Psychiatric Technicians in California earn a median of $49,140 a year ($23.62 an hour), based on BLS data for 14,100 workers.
Pay ranges from $40,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,090 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $45,130. California ranks 11th of 49 states for psychiatric technicians pay. There are 0.77 psychiatric technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.77). The average (mean) salary is $58,780, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for psychiatric technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $40,880 | $19.65 |
| 25th percentile | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| Median | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| 75th percentile | $74,390 | $35.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $88,090 | $42.35 |
| Average (mean) | $58,780 | $28.26 |
Half of psychiatric technicians earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,095 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,047.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,890 |
| Weekly | $945 |
| Hourly | $23.62 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Psychiatric Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $95,580 | 330 |
| Napa, CA | $83,960 | 320 |
| Visalia, CA | $76,700 | 200 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,120 | 260 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $63,510 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $55,550 | 260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $54,640 | 1,020 |
| Fresno, CA | $53,680 | 620 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $51,370 | 80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,470 | 1,390 |
| Modesto, CA | $48,390 | 160 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,120 | 900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,040 | 4,770 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $47,810 | 910 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $43,710 | n/a |
| El Centro, CA | $37,820 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for psychiatric technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $67,430 |
| Oregon | $59,820 |
| New York | $58,080 |
| Nebraska | $57,370 |
| Connecticut | $55,500 |
| Hawaii | $55,150 |
| New Jersey | $54,040 |
| Washington | $52,470 |
| Massachusetts | $52,000 |
| Alaska | $51,650 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| Pharmacy Technician | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,810 | $29.71 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Dietetic Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Paramedic | $74,590 | $35.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2053. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a psychiatric technician make in California?
The median salary for psychiatric technicians in California is $49,140 a year, or $23.62 an hour. Pay ranges from $40,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $88,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid psychiatric technicians make in California?
The top 10% of psychiatric technicians in California earn at least $88,090 a year. The top 25% earn $74,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for psychiatric technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $40,880 a year, and a quarter of psychiatric technicians earn $46,620 or less.
How many psychiatric technicians work in California?
About 14,100 psychiatric technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.